Everyone loves foods that are well prepared and cooked. The food industry is in dire need for professionals who have culinary training or hands-inexperience. Being a chef is a fulfilling and extremely rewarding career. Remember that people will always be hungry even when the economy is hard. There are many benefits of being a professional chef. For instance, this will help you in gaining control of what gets into your food. Again, this is a perfect career for those guys who want to provide culinary creativity and high-quality service to their clients. The following are the main reasons why you need to become a professional chef:

Fulfilling Career

There are different chef positions and titles in the kitchen. Every position or tilt has its own place in the food industry. For instance, executive chefs are hired in hotels to manage the other chefs. Ideally, every hotel should have a “head chef.” Other companies hire sous chefs who serve as the right-hand men of the executive or head chefs. Assistant chefs work with head chefs. These are the guys who assist in plate presentation and food preparation. Pastry chefs or bakers work in the dessert section, where they mainly deal with baked foods.

Where Can You Work As a Chef?

Casinos

Cafes

Schools

Government institutions

Corporate kitchens

Royal kitchens

Nightclubs

Restaurants

Private rooms

Cafeterias

Bars

Fast food restaurants

Supermarkets

Lounges

With a little training you can also work as a barista in a coffee shop or make coffee professionally at home. It does require some extra skills when working with مكائن اسبريسو احترافية , but it wouldn’t be difficult for a chef!

Control What You Eat

Most restaurants use different types of ingredients when preparing foods. This means that he/she has great control over the type and quality of ingredients to use. As a chef, you have an opportunity of making the food of your choice and control what is going into the body.

Many People Love Partners Who Can Cook

Individuals who have excellent culinary skills are attractive. Most men love ladies who can cook delicious, high-quality foods. Guys who like beer and pizza should also learn how to prepare their own meals. Men can score some actions by cooking nice meals for their ladies.

It Saves Money

Everyone can confirm that eating out is expensive by checking his/her bank statement. A single meal can cost you about 10 USD in a restaurant. You can compare this with the average price of a rice bag which is about 5 USD. This means that you can prepare three good meals at home with just $ 5. Buying food in bulk and prepare it yourself can save you a lot of money. Ideally, there is no need of sending money in expensive restaurants if you have the expertise and skills of preparing the same foods at home.

It is an Easier Way of Maintaining One’s Diet

Some people are gluten free, paleo, and some keto. It is very difficult to follow some of these in the typical restaurants. Most of the common resorts don’t have restrictive diets as they are just focused on tasty foods. Skilled chefs can easily prepare restrictive diets at home.

Become Self-Sufficient

Picking the right place where you take foods with your friends can be a daunting task challenging, especially if they love different types of foods. Coming at home will give you an opportunity of getting everyone together. It is the cheapest way of eating what you want.

Save time

The chefs you find in a restaurant have many guests and people to cook for. Eating at home can save you time. Driving out to a restaurant and ordering meals is time-consuming. Staying at home and cooking from there can save a lot of time and fuel. Again you don’t have to waste time when putting clothes.

It Will Give You a Choice of Eating What You Want

Most people are limited by their locations when choosing restaurants. You will be limited to eating specific foods is there is just one hotel in your place. Cooking will give you a better opportunity of preparing the foods of your choice right from the comfort of your kitchen.

Being a chef is a wonderful profession that can help you in cooking your own meals and get a well-paying job out there. Cooking foods at home or restaurants will make you a better chef as you push for excellence. Mastering the culinary skills can also help you in climbing the ladder in your profession.

Every profession comes with their joys and also downfalls. To be able to wow your clients with your exemplary culinary skills, a lot of sacrifices have to be made. There are also numerous benefits that come with being a food artist. A lot of chefs only see the pros without considering the cons. It is therefore important to weigh in depth of both sides. As much as you love your career, focusing the pros only can make you in the same way overlooking the cons can break you. A list of pros and cons is specially prepared to guide chefs in the right direction towards self-improvement and overall growth.
Chefs are highly skilled professionals trained in all kinds of food as well as a presentation of the same. They normally work both in local and international hotels or restaurants. Apart from cuisine preparation they also take part in kitchen management and supervision of kitchen staff.

Pros of being a chef

The chefs are trained in preparation of any cuisine under the sun even inventing new recipes combinations as a result of experimenting with ingredients. Chefs are able to express their creativity in food preparation and presentation. They are free to try out and come up with new food recipes. The methods range from vegetarian cuisine which is now taking root as the food choice for many food lovers. It is not just cooking but also making tasty cuisines as well as retaining the nutrients and hue. Arranging and combining different foods to amaze food lovers is the work of a chef. A committed one will definitely do an excellent job to the client’s satisfaction.

Many chefs get international recognition via their culinary art. This, of course, comes at a cost from the hotels and restaurants in terms of payments. Most of the qualified chefs are paid handsomely in exchange for their skills in the kitchen. Many are the times the chefs are specifically called to prepare foods for prominent people who in turn pay a good sum of money for their excellent services.

A competent and highly-skilled chef is always been sought after by hotels and restaurants. Most restaurants and hotels retain their customers who are captivated by the kitchen skills of a specific chef. The list of hotels that want to have a taste of their skills is endless thus making job opportunities rising by the day. A professional chef is hard to complain about unemployment.

Due to their nature of the job, some of the chefs are hired to cook for varied prominent people in different states. This makes them travel to where their services are needed. The benefit of touring the world courtesy of their skills is frequently experienced.

There are also numerous self-employment opportunities at their disposal. In addition to traveling to different countries, they are able to identify a niche in the food industry. They are capable of utilizing resources and manage a business with ease.

Cons of being a chef

As they get satisfied comments from their customers the chefs mostly work for long hours. They spend most of their long shifts standing and moving in the kitchen. The hours in a shift can at times be extended especially during peak hours. They work on odd hours and the shifts are not easy. At the end of the day, they end up being extremely tired.

In some cases chefs working in average hotels and restaurants are underpaid. The pay being offered does not match the hours they input on a daily basis.

They also work in dangerous conditions. A chef is responsible for making sure the food is perfectly prepared at the same time to manage the kitchen staff. In the bid to multi-task all the roles, one slight mistake can be fatal to everyone in the kitchen. The fatalities can be in form of fires and serious accidents. In some cases, their careers come to an end due to workplace injuries. They are rendered unable to work anymore due to the severity of the accidents.

They also spend most of their time building an empire by incorporating their entrepreneurship skills without owning a single chain of food place in their entire life. They work for an entrepreneur but themselves do not own a business of their own. This is as a result of financial disability and lack of ample time to run a personal business. Majority of their time is spent working for someone and it is easy to lose track of how fast time lapses. By the time they think of setting up a business on their own, they are already aged.

Chicken meat is a cheap source of protein to our bodies. It is also easily available especially when you are keeping poultry in your homestead. Their meat is tender and boneless which explains the need to be carefully observant during its preparation. Chicken meat can be prepared by roasting, frying or grilling. While cooking the meat using any of the methods, you should ensure that you avoid the mistakes like the ones below as to ensure that you have the best quality meat and help maintain your health.

1. Thawing the meat on the counter

You should always abstain from leaving the chicken meat in the counter for too long. Apart from bacteria infecting the meat, there is also a high chance of toxins infections to the meat. Bacteria thrive well in conditions of moisture and food and meat provides the perfect environment for them. The bacteria, therefore, multiply faster in the meat making it unsafe for use.

2. Washing the chicken meat before cooking

Washing the chicken meat before cooking can cause serious health problems. This is because it increases the chances of poisoning from the campylobacter bacteria. Also, splashing water from the tap to the meat spreads the bacteria to the ground surface. When the chicken meat is cleaned with water from the tap, the Campylobacter cells are carried by water to other areas which can lead to massive food poisoning in that area. Campylobacter poisoning symptoms include severe diarrhea, tummy pain, and vomiting. You should also avoid slaughtering the chicken in places with food substances as it will infect the food with the bacteria.

3. Poor hygiene

Poor hygiene when cooking chicken meat can cause various health problems. You should always ensure that you wash your hands before and after cooking chicken meat. This is because the meat contains some bacteria which if it comes in contact with your body causes serious health problems. Also when dividing the meat into slices ensure that they do not come in contact with your body or mouth. Wash your hands thoroughly with a soap after cooking the meat. Also, ensure that you clean and disinfect the surfaces that came into contact with the chicken meat.

4. Ignoring food safety practices

You should always ensure that you follow safety practices while handling chicken meat at home. For example, you must always ensure that you do not put the cooked meat in the plate that was used to hold the raw meat. Doing so means that bacteria present in the raw meat will get transferred to the cooked meat in the plate. Ensure that all the utensils used for handling the raw meat are not used again in handling the cooked meat.

5. Forgetting to tenderize chicken breasts before cooking

Fewer people realize that it’s important to make the chicken meat breasts tender before cooking them in the pan. Pounding the chicken meat is significant for many reasons. This includes reducing the time for cooking the meat and making it easier to cook the meat better. You should also ensure that the breasts are of the same thickness approximately half inches each.

6. Forgetting to dry the meat

Since washing of the chicken meat is not recommended you should try drying the food. Besides drying the meat gives it a lovely brown color. For the best results you should allow the meat to dry outside of any packaging. While drying the meat ensure that you put it in the fridge. After drying remove it from the fridge and dry it using paper towels then proceed to cook the meat.

7. Overcooking or undercooking

You should always ensure that the chicken meat is properly cooked before serving. Also when roasting the meat ensure that heat reaches the inner tissues of the meat. Undercooked meat contains bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms that can cause serious damage to your health. Overcooked meat is also not preferable since overcooking the meat kills the vital nutrients found in the food. Therefore, when cooking you should always ensure that you cook the meat using the right temperature and serve only when it is well-cooked.

8. Impatience
When cooking chicken meat you should be patient in the whole process of cooking. This involves ensuring that the meat is properly cooked. When roasting the meat for example, before turning the meat always ensure that the sides are properly roasted before turning them.

For most of us, the thought of a good cup of coffee is what gets us out of bed every morning. After all, who doesn’t love some great coffee? It is such a great way to kick-start your day, and drinking some freshly brewed coffee gives us the much-needed kick of energy. It also enables us to function properly throughout the day, making it a success. But what if it doesn’t taste right? Well, even if you use an automatic coffee maker, a French press or just a single-cup brewer, there are chances that, your coffee won’t taste as good as that form your local coffee shop. But not to worry, for here are the reasons your coffee isn’t tasting as good as it should.

1. You’re Not Using Fresh Beans
Usually, roasted coffee beans are filled with flavor compounds that deteriorate with prolonged exposure to oxygen. It is therefore wise to keep your fresh coffee beans in an airtight, opaque container, away from the sun. Otherwise, it will be oxidized and lose its flavor. Also, if you can’t remember when you bought the beans, it’s high time you bought fresh ones. This is because oxidation is inevitable after some time, and the only way to you get a tasty coffee is if you bought new ones. Precisely, only buy as much as you can consume in about two weeks.

2. You’re Storing Coffee Beans in A Fridge
Most people think that storing coffee beans in a freezer or fridge keeps them fresh, not to mention increasing their shelf life. But on the contrary, this is false, as roasted beans do absorb smells from other foods present and moisture from the fridge. You can, however, store them in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature and still retain their taste. Alternatively, you can consider purchasing ninja coffee bars as they keep them fresh longer.

3. Using Improper Water Temperature
The use of the wrong water temperature is another vital, yet often overlooked, factor when brewing at home. In fact, even the most enthusiastic of the coffee lovers often make this mistake. If your brew with too hot water, therefore, chances are, you will get bitter tasting coffee. Too cold water, on the other hand, will make a weak-tasting cup of coffee. To achieve the optimal extraction, therefore, use water at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. And even though the coffee might not be as tasty as that from your favorite coffee shop, it will be relatively tasty.

4. Using the Wrong Coffee to Water Ratio
More often than not, we end up using the incorrect coffee to water ratio, and this results in less than an ideal drink. It is however recommended that you use two tablespoons of coffee grounds for every six to eight ounces of water. Otherwise, the wrong ratio will result in either a bitter or less tasty drink. You can, however, increase the amount to 3 tablespoons if you prefer a strong brew.

5. The Use of Wrong-sized or Pre-Ground Beans
Pre-ground beans are convenient and easy, but they are also more susceptible to oxidation than freshly ground ones. Again, while grinding them before is a great idea, you should know that every brewing style requires a particular grind. You should, therefore, grind as much as you can consume in 1 to 2 weeks to preserve freshness. Also, make sure to grind your beans according to your brewing technique.

6. Using Dirty Brewing Equipment
For most coffee brewing machines, their hoses and water receptacles can’t be detached, which means you can’t clean them properly. As such, these parts collect mold and bacteria for all the time you use it. Eventually, they accumulate too much-unwanted residue and undesirable tastes to your coffee. Similarly, coffee leaves behind oils in your brewing equipment. It is therefore recommended that you make a habit of thoroughly washing and rinsing your equipment. This way, you will have significantly reduced the chances of the unpleasant smells and taste.

Brewing and enjoying this perfect cup is an indulgence and a source of pride. But just because you lack the fancy equipment and machinery, doesn’t mean you can’t make a great tasting cup. It only means you need to know what not to do, and what to do, then do it right. With these guidelines, however, you should be able to make your coffee to taste. Order your most preferred blend today, and enjoy every sip of your perfect drink.

Keeping your kitchen clean as you cook is a daunting task as you will be juggling two activities at a time. Unlike the cooking shows on television, your kitchen will never look that clean unless you have someone else cleaning after you make a mess. However, imagine the possibility of having a clean kitchen as soon as you are done preparing a large meal. You simply need to learn how to clean as you cook as professional chefs do. They are able to keep their workspaces clean considering the amount of cooking they engage it at a particular time.
Not only will having a clean workspace give you peace of mind but also will help you prepare food more efficiently. The result will be the production of delicious meals which is definitely what you are looking forward to.
As a result, this article is designed to help you with several tips that will enable you to keep your kitchen clean.

1. Soak the dishes

Trying to avoid dirty dishes from piling up in the sink? Well, we got you covered. Fill up a large basin or sink with hot soapy water. Every time you are done using a utensil, dump it into the water. Soaking utensils for some time will wash away the dirt and soften any foods that might be stuck onto it. This will lessen the time you will require to wash it later. In case you need to use the soaked utensils, simply fill up a sink or bowl with clean water where you can rinse them off. It is advisable not to soak knives as you might end up hurting yourself when trying to reach for other utensils.

2. Limit the number of items you use

If you are using a bowl to mix a certain ingredient, you can simply rinse it off once you have poured it into your cooking pan. This will reduce the number of times you will have to reach out for your cabinet to grab fresh utensils. It will also prevent you having a pile of dishes lying in your sink which could have been reused. For example, you do not need different knives to chop vegetables. Rinse the knife off with some running water instead. As a result, you will have fewer dishes in your sink by the time you are done cooking your meal which will give you some level of fulfillment.

3. Use a cutting mat

A chopping board is the best surface to cut meat, vegetables, and fruits on. However, you should consider using a cutting mat underneath the board. Ensure that the mat is much larger than your chopping board. The importance of the mat is that it will catch any foods that fall off the chopping board. This will help to prevent food substances from falling to the floor or countertops creating a huge mess. A cutting mat will ensure that the kitchen counters remain clean at all times. The only task you will have to engage in is cleaning the dirty dishes and not the counters.

4. Have a garbage disposal bowl

Cooking involves many waste products such as peels and trimmings which seem to always take up most of the space on the kitchen counter. Walking to the garbage station is not always convenient as you are trying to focus on making a great meal. Also, it is more reasonable to dispose everything all at once. As a result, you should set up a garbage station on your counter. This could be a shopping bag or a bowl that will hold all the waste. This waste management technique will save you several trips to the trash can and seeing piles of waste on your counter.

5. Plan frequent cleaning sessions as you cook

As you prepare your food, you will always have some time to spare before you start cooking. This time can be used to carry out some minor cleaning to eliminate dishes from piling up. Additionally, as you wait for your food to cook, let us say fifteen minutes, you could take some time and clean. If you realize that your counter is looking messy, take a two-minute break from food preparation and clean it up. Plan small cleaning intervals as you cool so that you are not left with a huge mess.
Moreover, before serving the food. Wipe the kitchen counter and place utensils in the dishwasher.

Baking and cooking are two entirely different activities. Cooking is much more laid back while baking requires science. The right measurements have to be made using the correct measuring equipment when baking. The following article will discuss some of the mistakes commonly made while baking.

1. Skipping a Step in the Recipe

Once your pastry has baked, you will be wondering why it was not a success. The simple reason is that you missed or skipped a step in the recipe. This is a common mistake made when people ignore the instructions on the recipe. While reading the recipe, you need to pay attention to the placement of the commas. Those commas are written down for a reason. They can make or break your process of baking.

2. Baking in an Oven That is Not Preheated

Most people tend to realize that they have not preheated the oven once they are done filling their cupcake tins. Instead of preheating the oven, you might be tempted to place your tins in the oven and preheat when they are inside. This will result in a disaster as it will mess up the baking process. Before baking, preheat the oven.

3. Opening the Oven Too Often

Opening the oven regularly will cause your cookies or cakes to get ready slowly. Opening the oven causes cold air to flow into the oven resulting in a decrease of temperature in the oven. This could cause the cake to collapse, under-cook or overcook. Use the light feature on the oven to avoid opening it.

4. Your Oven Could Be Too Hot

The top of your cupcakes should be flat. If they turn out to be dome-shaped, it is an indication that your oven is too hot. You could have followed the recipe right and set your oven to the required temperature. However, sometimes the figures displayed on the oven are not always accurate especially if you have an old oven. Different ovens set at similar temperatures can experience a variation of up to ninety degrees.

5. Not Measuring the Ingredients

You probably are trying to juggle several activities at a time while your cake is congealing in the mixture. Perhaps trying to reach out for eggs, heating up milk and looking through your pantry for baking powder. This is a stressful situation and could lead to numerous mistakes. You could even forget to add sugar in your cake.
Before turning on your mixer, you need to organize yourself. Measure out all ingredients in advance. Crack the eggs, separate the yolk from the egg whites and put them in different containers. This will eliminate the risk of having any shells into your mix. Mix the cake up once you have everything ready.

6. Placing The Cake On the Wrong Rack

Every experienced baker knows that the racks in the oven are not equal. You cannot simply set your cake on any rack and attain successful results. Baking on the wrong rack results in an unevenly cooked and browned cake.
Therefore, you should always place your cake tin in the center of the oven. You can also use two racks that will rotate the cake while it is still baking. This will ensure that all sides brown evenly.

7. Failing to Sift the Flour as Written in the Recipe

If you want your dough to rise correctly, you have to sift the flour. Many people skip this step as they regard It as time-consuming. However, you need to understand that flour can be lumpy at times. Sifting causes it to be airier, fine and mix more easily with other ingredients. Additionally, ingredients such as sugar and cocoa need to be sifted too.

8. Not Resting Your Dough in the Fridge.

Once you have kneaded your dough, you should place it in the fridge for thirty minutes. It allows the dough to solidify which makes it much easier to work with. Working with dough that is at room temperature will prove hard to flatten especially when you are making cookies. Before placing your cookies in the oven, let them rest in the fridge for a few minutes.

9. Leaving Your Pastry in The Oven for Too Long

Your pastries will harden, turn brown or even burn. When baking, clear your schedule to focus on the task at hand fully. Chances are you think that you should remove the pastries once they turn golden brown. Cookies need a few extra minutes in the oven as they will harden when removed. Depending on your recipe, you should know when to take them out. However, if you burn your pastries often, remove them when they turn golden.

10. Cutting in the Cake While It Is Still Hot

By the time your cake is ready, your house smells good. You can barely resist from eating it. However, if you are looking forward to eating a cake that has great texture, let it cool. The cake continues to bake even when it is out of the oven until its completely cool. Cool your cake in an airy place to prevent it from accumulating any moisture.

There is nothing more quite satisfying like a delicious plate of fresh pasta. Pasta is one of our favorite dishes whether covered with thick tomato sauce or creamy alfredo. It is easy to prepare pasta, but sometimes you may end up making a mess while cooking your pasta. Below are top 10 mistakes experienced when making pasta.

1. Using a Small Pot
This is the most common mistake done when cooking pasta. When preparing pasta, always go for the larges pot and fill it with 4 to 5 quarts of water. Using a large bowl will ensure you don’t break up the pasta to fit and also your pasta won’t come out sticky. When you use a small pot, the pasta will have less water resulting in a higher amount of starch in the pot. To be safe, always go for larger pots.

2. Blindly Following Directions
At the back of any box of pasta you purchase have directions. While these instructions seem simple, most people neglect to read them and end up cooking pasta the wrong way. However, these directions are not very accurate. Do not cook your pasta for 10 minutes just because the box has indicated so, think of the listed directions as suggestions. Before draining the pot, always taste a noddle or two confirm whether it is ready.

3. Leaving Out The Salt
At the back of your pasta box, it is indicated that you should boil the pasta in salty water. Maybe because of laziness or just because we are trying to eat healthier, but the majority of people tend to skip this step. By omitting the salt, you will be opting for slimy pasta.

4. Adding Too Much Fat
Some fresh pasta with brilliantly shaded vegetables is a healthier dish any person would be pleased to serve. Unfortunately, we regularly soak our pasta with imitation cheese or creamy Alfredo sauce. That fat we add to our pasta won’t just build our waistlines, either. It takes away a portion of your pasta’s normally tasty starchy flavor. Ensure you don’t add any oil to your pot of cooking pasta. The oil will make the noodles become slippery, which implies any sauce you add will not stick to them, bringing about plain, tasteless noodles

5. Forgetting to Stir
Once your water is boiling, start stirring your pasta instead of living it and waiting until its cooked. It is important to mix your pasta, so it does not all sink to the base of the pot. At the point when your noodles are altogether resting at the bottom of the bowl, they can begin sticking together, resulting to sticky pasta. Mixing the pasta regularly will help stop it from holding together

6. Throwing Your Pasta Against The Wall

If you’ve at any point experienced difficulty telling if your pasta was ready, possibly you may have felt enticed to attempt the old trick of throwing it against the wall. As far as anyone knows, whether the pasta sticks to the wall once it’s thrown, it is ready. Well not to be a downer, but rather that is a big cooking mistake. Not only that you are dirtying your walls and wasting your delicious pasta but also teaching your children but cooking habits. The only way to determine if your pasta is ready is by tasting.

7. Tossing The Cooking Water
Once your is ready, drain the cooking water. This water is now full of pasta flavor, and it is starchy, and it might come out in handy. It is always a good idea to keep some of these magical water on hand. This will eliminate the need for super saucy preparations.

8. Rinsing the pasta
Do not make the process of pasta preparation harder. Cooking pasta is one of the simplest ways to prepare a home-cooked, delicious meal, thus never add extra steps. Rinsing your pasta with water after cooking is not necessary. Simple drain it and add the sauce.

9. Making Way Too Much
Deciding on how much pasta to put in your pot can be challenging especially when you are cooking a large amount for example for a crowd. You may be worried of running out thus ending up cooking the entire box. Always prepare the right amount of pasta to avoid throwing it away when it is in excess.

10. leaving Your Pasta Waiting
Your pasta needs to be served as soon as it is cooked. Place your pasta in a warmed bowl once it is drained and toss it with warm sauce.

Indeed, we all love a juicy, and well-cooked steak. Though it’s a common staple in most households, this sumptuous, hearty meal can sometimes fall short. From the fridge to plate, there are a few tricks steak chefs employ. When you have a quality piece of meat, therefore, you would want to make it as delicious as possible. You definitely do not want to screw it up with complex cooking procedures and extravagant spices. However, it’s challenging to make it perfect, but you can try to prepare this excellent cold-weather dish like a pro. Well, not to fear, for here are the common mistakes that prevent your home-made steaks from reaching their full flavor potential.

1. Cooking Your Steak Direct From the Fridge

One common mistake most people do is cooking the steak fresh from the fridge. This often makes its surface char, while the inside becomes a little bit thinner than it should be. It’s therefore advisable that you plan ahead. Take it out of the fridge in advance, and allow it some time to reach the room temperature. Otherwise, you’re risking an undercooked steak, unappealing, with a gray exterior and certainly not delicious.

2. Overcooking it

Unless you’re a pro, it is usually tough to tell whether or not your steak is ready just by looking at it. However, experts recommend that a medium-sized steak be cooked for five to seven minutes. But if you want some more appealing results, you can use a simple meat thermometer. Besides, it’s quick, easy, and always accurate. Cooking your steak to about 165°F will give you some incredible results.

3. Failing to Season Your Steak In Advance

According to experts, most people either do not season their steak enough, or they only season one side. It is, however, recommended that steak be seasoned on both sides, and for about 40 minutes before cooking. Adding a combination of kosher and sea salt with a fresh, ground pepper mix, therefore, can be ideal. If you like, you can even add some extra spices.

4. Using the Wrong Pan

Never cook your steak in a non-stick frying pan. It requires a heavy-duty pan to form a delicious outer crust. Griddle pans, for example, are ideal for the job. This is because they retain plenty of the heat helping your steak form a delicious outer crust as well as preventing the juice and blood from escaping. Nonetheless, be sure to preheat the pan before you begin preparing your meal.

5. Salting Your Steak Before Cooking

Before you begin preparing your steak, you might need to boil it first. On the process, however, some people end up adding salt instead of seasoning it, and which draws out the flavorsome juices. You can, therefore, rub it with some chopped garlic, thyme or even freshly ground black pepper to add flavor.

6. Not Blotting the Raw Steak
You might not know it already, but the wetter the surface of the steak, the more likely it is to steam when placed on the hot pan. As such, you will need a paper towel to blot it before cooking. This also helps get rid of any surplus moisture ensuring that the outside gets crunchy and caramelized.

7. You Didn’t Let the Pan Get Hot Enough
As mentioned earlier, the pan needs to retain plenty of heat besides getting hot. This is because it helps in the formation of the crisp, caramelized crust. Otherwise, it will steam instead of searing. Ensure to therefore cook it until the pan starts to smoke. This way, your steak will be moist, flavorful and not too tough or dry.
Finally, as you may have heard before, you should never serve your steak right away. It absolutely needs some time to rest, and let the juices redistribute. Obviously, you are anxious to enjoy your meal, but allowing it some time to cool can do it so much good. Besides, what’s better than making it the sweetest it can be? Take a break, therefore, and give it some time to sweeten.
Above all, never use a fork to turn your steak as piercing the meat might result in the loss of all those flavorsome juices. Instead, use tongs, but do not leave it on the open flame for long as it will overcook.

Studies show that most people in developed countries cannot cook. Despite the many cooking television shows, people have not still found their way around the kitchen. Cooking can be a great past time activity when the right approach is utilized. With a few cooking tips, you can simplify the cooking process and create delicious meals. Outlined below are ten cooking tips for beginners.

1. Read the Recipes Before You Start Cooking

More often than not we skim through recipes instead of reading them thoroughly. Probably it is because we think it is a waste of time, or we can read as we cook. Unfortunately, the results are not usually great once the meal is ready. Sometimes some of the instructions are usually written further down in the cookbook. Chances are, you will miss some of them if you do not read carefully. For excellent results, read and understand your recipes.

2. Prepare and Organize Your Ingredients in Advance

You might be wondering why this step is so important. It might be more reasonable to chops the tomatoes as the meat cooks. However, preparing ahead of time will make you a better cook. As a first time cook, you might find it hard to watch the food in the pan while still trying to chop more ingredients. Begin by washing, chopping and dicing all your ingredients before heating up your pan. This will prevent burning the food or cutting yourself as you swiftly try to chop other ingredients. Additionally, it will help you enjoy cooking instead of rushing through the process.

3. Avoid Overcrowding the Pan

When the pan is overcrowded, heat will not be distributed evenly to the food. These will affect the general taste of the food. Additionally, as food cooks, it releases moisture. An overcrowded pan will result in steamed food which alters the texture. Ensure that there is space between the food so that it cooks thoroughly. You could cook in batches if you have a small pan.

4. Get a Good Knife

Well, you definitely need a knife while cooking. A chef’s knife in this case. A knife can affect your cutting techniques as you will struggle to cut everything especially if it is blunt. A good knife must be sharp and feel comfortable in your hands. People with small hands should use smaller knives while those with larger hands should use larger knives. When buying a knife, ensure that you are aware of the size of your hands.

5. Buy Fresh Ingredients and Vegetables

Your food will only be as good as your ingredients. As a beginner, head to the nearest food store and purchase an array of spices. Avoid using old spices you find in your cabinet.
When it comes to vegetables, head over to the nearest farmers market. You will find fresh and healthy vegetables that will make your dish flavorful.
When buying meat and cheese, choose organic products. There is a significant difference in flavor between organic and regular cheap meat. Organic foods always taste better.

6. Add Salt to Pasta Water

When making pasta, add a good amount of salt to the boiling water. Do not worry about taking in excess salt as it will drain with the water. Add pasta to the hot water which will elevate the taste of your meal. While still on pasta. Avoid adding oil to the pasta water. It will prevent the sauce from mixing well with the pasta.

7. Regulate The Heat

Unless you are boiling water, do not use a lot of heat when cooking. Try and use medium heat to avoid burning all your food. Electric and gas burners are quite different which is why you should learn how your stove works before using it.
When boiling eggs, turn off the stove before they are completely done. It will prevent them from being overcooked.

8. Rest the Meat

Steak should never taste dry. Once it cooks, do not cut into it immediately as it will lose its juices. Resting meat ensures that the juices remain within the meat which will make it delicious as you eat. The resting time of meat depends on its size.

9. Preserve vegetables using paper towels

Wrap vegetables with paper towels and store them in plastic bags. It will reduce the amount of food that is thrown out. Ensure that the bags are airtight since oxygen destroys vegetable. Avoid washing vegetables or fruits until you are ready to consume them.

10. Do not improvise

As a beginner cook, follow the recipe to the end. Write down any new things you learn as you cook which will come in handy the next time. Once you learn how to cook most meals, you can begin to improvise.
Remember to taste everything as you cook!

Having to live with diabetes doesn’t to necessarily mean that an individual should be eating a special diet or forego some meals but rather eat like any other person, eating the same meals as them. Having all that mentioned, because diabetes is an ailment culminating from a metabolic disorder that is associated with glucose control within the bloodstream, people living with diabetes need to pay keen and vivid attention to their diet ensuring that they are receiving a correctly balanced diet.

The food is to be cooked using low fat and food that has a low count of starch and sugar. The food should constitute fruits, vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. Moreover, cooking should be done using liquid oil and fats. Solid fats in most cases have saturated fats in them. Also, diabetic people are called to be smart about the choice of food they take. They should take in food that provides them with energy and fiber. Also, instead of using ingredients like sugar that raise the level of sugar in the blood, a diabetic person in the process of cooking food can opt to use other components that may play the same role like sugar and salt would have done. It should be understood that some of these ingredients have medicinal value in them. Cinnamon, for instance, helps reduce blood sugar. Having put all these in mind that people with diabetes need to eat like other people, questions begin to rise on what type of food that is supposed to be taken by them. Below are eight suggestions of foods that may constitute the diet of a diabetic person.

First and foremost, there is a need to make a selection of the excellent range of vegetables and fruits. This is done to discourage the diabetic people from sticking to some specific kinds of foods. Color testing is an essential element when it comes to the choice of fruits and vegetables. There is needed to make the inclusion of a wide range of fruits and vegetables for example oranges, carrots, bananas, red cabbages, apples, carrots, and beans. The vegetable intake into the body should be that one that has a low count on starch and calories or starch free vegetables such as broccoli and spinach.

A need also rises for the diet cooked for the diabetic, to constitute whole grain rather than the processed foods. They should also be choosy on grains like brown rice rather than the regular white rice and turning to the cooking of whole wheat such as spaghetti. Furthermore, the inclusion of fish in the diet of a diabetic person has a significant effect and of great significance, because in fish, we can get proteins and the addition of various nutritious oils. Always bake, boil, steam or grill fish and always avoid frying the fish in butter and cooking oil since the oils contain calories that increase the susceptibility of the diabetic people to the vulnerability of diabetes.

Also, there is a need to have a choice of lean meat on the plate of a diabetic person. To gain better results, the meat is supposed to be grilled, baked rather than frying. When buying the meat, always choose meat with the word loin or sirloin or pork loin. If it is indispensable that an individual decides poultry like chicken, before serving, the outer skin is to be removed since the surface has fatty oils and fat that are full of calories. In addition to this, there is a need for putting avoidance on fatty meat. Without forgetting the role of the dairy products, there is a need to emphasize the selection of the dairy products that are low in fats or lacking fat at all.

In most cases, when using the dairy products that require fats, in consuming them, it is realized that they are lack taste or tasteless, their one may resolve to use dairy products that are low on fats. Besides, diabetic people have to avoid sweetened drinks particularly the carbonated ones but instead take a large intake of fresh water and natural fruit juice. Diabetic people are also encouraged to shy of from the behavior of consuming foods that have substantial levels of sugar and taking tea with high levels of sugar and tea. Sugar is a significant contributor to glucose. Without forgetting, diabetic people need to eat at a slower pace for them to enjoy their food. Eating faster increases the possibility of eating a large chunk of food as it denies the body enough time need to notify it of eating enough.